Identification of T-cell epitopes from benzylpenicillin conjugated to human serum albumin and implication in penicillin allergy

There is in vitro evidence that T cells from allergic patients react to benzylpenicillin-human serum albumin (BP-HSA) bioconjugates. Our group has recently shown the existence of naïve CD4+ T cells recognizing BP-HSA in healthy donors. However, BP-haptenated peptides from HSA participating in the immunization of allergic patients have never been identified. The purpose of the present study is to identify immunodominant BP-haptenated peptides from HSA involved in immunization of patients to BP and to refine the frequency calculation of naïve CD4+ T cells recognizing BP.